Western EU envoys absent at Jerusalem embassy celebration: report

Diplomats from western European Union nations (EU) did not attend the Sunday launch event commemorating the U.S. moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Reuters reported.

Envoys from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania reportedly did appear at the Sunday event. But none of the EU’s western member states were in attendance, according to Reuters. Countries that did not send a representative to the party declined to provide the news agency with a comment.

{mosads}The event comes ahead of the embassy’s Monday opening in Jerusalem after President Trump last year announced the U.S. would move its outpost from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

“Move your embassies to Jerusalem because it’s the right thing to do,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said Sunday.

“Move your embassies to Jerusalem because it advances peace, and that’s because you can’t base peace on a foundation of lies.”

East Jerusalem was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Some say this part of the city is occupied territory, while Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem the capital of a future independent state.

Critics of Trump’s decision argued the move could spark unrest in the region, while the administration says it rightfully recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.

“It’s a recognition of reality,” White House national security adviser John Bolton told ABC’s “This Week.”

“If you’re not prepared to recognize that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that’s where the American Embassy should be, then you’re operating on a completely different wavelength.”